Unveiling the Unprecedented Harmony of Dual Protagonists in Alan Wake 2
Alan Wake 2 masterfully achieves an equal partnership between its renowned protagonist and the intriguing newcomer, Saga Remedy's GR interview reveals their commitment to delivering an immersive 50/50 experience that will captivate players
Developers have introduced a secondary protagonist, FBI agent Saga Anderson, in Alan Wake 2 to familiarize newer fans with the classic setting of Bright Falls, Washington. While having two protagonists in a game named Alan Wake may initially confuse some players, there were valid reasons to expand the scope of Alan Wake 2 beyond just the titular character. Remedy's decision to balance Saga and Alan in the game was revealed in an interview with Alan Wake 2 game director Kyle Rowley and principal narrative designer Molly Maloney, where they explained that it was intended to provide a 50/50 experience for players.
The addition of Saga Anderson in Alan Wake 2 is crucial for effectively conveying Alan's story to players who are new to Remedy's connected universe through Control or may not remember all the details of the original Alan Wake game, which was released 13 years ago. Saga serves as a point-of-view character, representing new players, but she is much more than just a mechanical addition to the game. It's important to note that Alan remains the central character, and his role in the game cannot be underestimated. The developers aimed for a 50/50 balance between Saga and Alan, recognizing the significance of both characters. As Rowley stated, "That's why it was very important that we definitely have it be 50/50 between the two. Then, Alan is present on the other side of the game too. It's not like he's only present in The Dark Place."
The game is structured such that the player first controls Saga, introducing her side of the story, and then switches to controlling Alan, introducing his side of the story. The team at Remedy faced challenges in determining when to switch between the two characters. Initially, players had the option to switch at any time, but this caused problems such as losing track of Saga's progress or only playing Alan's story after completing Saga's, resulting in pacing issues. However, instead of forcing swaps between Saga and Alan, Remedy decided to identify specific narrative moments where the protagonist switch felt natural. These moments were likened to off-ramps on a freeway.
We soon discovered that there were crucial moments in the game where it was essential to grasp certain information. For instance, if your character is Alan, we expect you to have a clear understanding of specific details before progressing further, as they are crucial for comprehending subsequent events. It's analogous to navigating a freeway - once you pass an exit, you continue playing for a while before encountering the next exit.
The game does not aim to force players to leave the freeway, according to Rowley. The off-ramps serve the purpose of ensuring that players switch at moments that will not disrupt the game's flow or playability. Furthermore, if players spend enough time in Saga's story to forget what Alan was doing, they will not be abruptly thrust into the middle of a mission. Rowley explained that thanks to these narrative off-ramps, players can return with access to the carefully crafted resources of the horror game to help them get up to speed.
"One of the reasons why we dedicated so many resources to features like the case board and plot board was to provide a way for players to catch up on previous events," Rowley shared. "If players have been progressing through Saga's sequence for a significant amount of time, they can then go back to Alan and consult their board to remind themselves of what they have achieved and where they currently stand in the game. It serves as a satisfying mechanism to fulfill power fantasies while also allowing players to catch up on the narrative they have experienced before."
Switching between the stories offers a valuable solution to a persistent problem in gaming - getting stuck. The progression in the game no longer needs to adhere to a strict order, while still maintaining some guidance unlike open-world games. Remedy aimed to strike a balance between these two concepts, highlighting the importance of duality as a central theme in Alan Wake 2.
"Switching between the protagonists provides a much-needed, invigorating experience," Maloney stated. "If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed playing as Alan or Saga, simply switch."
Alan Wake 2 releases October 27, 2023, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
